Newscast - Africa

The United Nations says Botswana has taken a significant step towards eliminating mother to child transmission of HIV.
The World Health Organization and UNAIDS described the progress as a huge accomplishment for a country that has one of the most severe HIV epidemics in the world.
The WHO says thanks to visionary political leadership, the southern African country had demonstrated that an AIDS-free generation was possible.
It says improved antenatal care and the provision of anti retroviral treatment to pregnant mothers had played a key role.

Sudan’s military leader Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has called for the United Nations to support the transitional government.
Gen Burhan met the UN special representative to the country, Volker Perthes, who said that despite welcoming the deal for a return to constitutional order, other critical steps need to follow without elaborating.
Gen Burhan says he will co-operate with reinstated civilian Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and support the transitional government he forms until elections are held.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki have urged the public to support the deal for the return to a peaceful democracy.

The Minister of Health Dr Osagie Ehanire says the federal government was currently pushing for a law on a mandatory health insurance scheme in Nigeria, as part of reforms as well as to revolutionise funding in the sector.
The Minister says the government was implementing innovative digital health technology reforms and building a network of National Primary Health Care centres across the country to take healthcare delivery to the grassroots.
Ehanire says models of the new Primary Healthcare Centres designs had been sent to all state governors adding that each PHC would have staff quarters, assured water supply, solar-powered aggregates and a sound complement of human resources for health.
He says that PHCs are the most important building blocks of the country’s health system and should be prioritised by all states as the platform attain Universal Health Coverage.

The House of Representatives has ordered an immediate investigation into debts totalling N2.6 trillion allegedly owed the Federal Government by oil and gas companies operating in the country.
A report by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative says from the failure of the firms to remit Petroleum Profit Tax, Company Income Tax, Education Tax, Value Added Tax, Withholding Tax, Royalties, Penalties and Concession on rentals to the Federal Government.
The House raised an Adhoc committee to investigate the matter after the lawmaker representing Lere Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Rep. Ahmed Munir, brought it up the floor through a motion on notice.
He says that if debts are recovered, the money could be used to service some of the Federal Government’s debts as well as fund up to 16.2 per cent of the 2022 budget deficit.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has issued authority to Anambra State Government to open the international cargo and passenger airport for commercial operations with effect from 2nd December 2021.
The aviation authority says that it has received security clearance from relevant security agencies for the opening.
They stated that the negative security clearance was the reason the authority had declined approval for the opening of the airport on the 30th of October 2021, when the state government had scheduled the commissioning.
Anambra State Commissioner for Works, Mr Marcel Ifejiofor, commended the efforts of Governor Obiano who never relented even while on vacation to ensure that the Anambra airport becomes operational ahead of the Christmas 2021 mass return of the people of Anambra living in the diaspora, and other visitors.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has expressed optimism about the inherent gains in the Nigerian-South Korean Parliamentary Friendship group.
Gbajabiamila noted that the robust existing bilateral relationship between the two countries was an indication of positive parliamentary gains for both countries.
The Speaker also expressed hope that the group would usher in a new vista of opportunities for growth and development for both countries.
Amb. Young-Chae informed the Speaker that South Korea was desirous of improving on its existing economic and technological activities in Nigeria.
He added that an impressive number of Nigerians were working and contributing to the South Korean economy.

Emirates Airlines will resume its passenger operations between Dubai and Nigeria on 5th December 2021.
The United Arab Emirates carrier made this known via a statement issued on Thursday.
The resumption of services comes 10 months after the carrier suspended flights to Nigeria after a diplomatic row between the two countries over COVID-19 protocols.
It will also enable travellers to safely connect via Dubai to the Emirates network of over 120 global destinations.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, says there is no provision in the law that empowers the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to overrule the decisions of the #EndSARS Judicial Panel of Inquiry.
The senior lawyer also argued that no provision exists for the issuance of a White Paper under the law setting up the Panel.
Mr Adegboruwa declared that the Governor cannot issue a White Paper to overrule the decisions of a Judicial Panel of Inquiry.

Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila has reiterated the determination of the House of Representatives to support the development of education in Nigeria.
Gbajabiamila noted that education ranked topmost on the Legislative Agenda of the 9th House of Representatives because it remained the foundation of development in any society.
He says education is the foundation of civilisation and development and many members are trying to get tertiary institutions to their locality.
He added that Education remains the priority and everything will be done to bring it to fruition.

The head of vaccine manufacturer Moderna warned that existing Covid-19 inoculations will struggle against the fast-spreading Omicron variant as countries ramp up vaccination programmes and impose further restrictions in an effort to curb growing concern.
Stephane Bancel, the head of US vaccine manufacturer Moderna, told the Financial Times in an interview that data would be available on the effectiveness of vaccines in the two weeks’ time, but that scientists were pessimistic.